Connor knew, of course, that he would be blamed for the wry comment. Edith’s chair dragged on the floor as she stood up. She was rigid as she marched out the front door.
“Now I see why you picked here,” Nick remarked.
“Nick,” Trevor warned.
Nick held up his hands in submission, unperturbed. He’d gotten his jab in.
Connor could defend his involvement. But only if he was willing to place the blame on Sandy.Never,he thought. And if any of them said a single bad word about her… He fought the way his body wanted to stiffen, hating the new tension that now charged the air.
“She’s not wrong,” Connor said. It came out uncaring, like he was a total monster who didn’t give a damn that his mom had just been subjected to a hurtful remark in front of her new family, and was undoubtedly embarrassed and hurt.
Connor was part monster, at the very least, because hedidn’tfeel bad. He didn’t like the tension, nor how uncomfortable Laurence and Trevor were, but there was no sympathy within him for Edith. For as long as he could remember, Edith had despised him while Sandy had fed him, played with him, and talked to him. And she was defending him now. She didn’t believe the reports about him.Shedidn’t think he would do that.
“I need to go.” Trevor stood. He dug his wallet out and placed his card on the table. “You three can order what you like.”
Laurence’s phone pinged as Trevor left, and he glanced at the screen. His eyes widened as his gaze darted down the rows of text on his phone. “Listen to this! ‘Holland Corp’ named as the previously anonymous donor behind Judge Renald’s run for office.”
Connor met Laurence’s buzzing excitement with a raised eyebrow. Renald was the man who gave Connor his slap on the wrist, and he knew that there were people who thought there was a homophobic agenda going on behind it all. Apparently, Laurence cared more about the news than he did about the little spat they had just witnessed.
“Judges get donors all the time,” Connor said.
“Irish judges don’t get funded by American billionaires!”
“Holland Corp isn’t an American billionaire,” Nick said. He didn’t look impressed that Laurence’s attention had moved on so quickly from their dad leaving and Edith being angered and hurt.
“Itis,” Laurence said. He thrust the phone at Connor.
The first thing Connor saw was the website’s name. “I’m not sure ‘Conspiracy Theories’ is the most reliable source of information.”
“No, listen.” Laurence took his phone back before Connor even glanced at the article. “It linked to other articles that are legit.” He handed the phone to Nick, who started to read it. “And it says on Judge Renald’s page that one of his sponsors is Holland Corp.”
“And where does it say that Holland Corp is a billionaire?” Nick asked. “It’s a business based in Holland.”
“No, it’s not. I already researched them when I was trying to find who owned the lab where Connor’s other dad works. Eventually, I got the name Holland Corp, and when I researched who ownedthat, it led back to Richard Cessair.”
Connor’s other dad. It took Connor a second to formulate words. “Cessair being the man who owns the lab?”
“Yes.” Laurence’s eyes brimmed with excitement.
The information tugged at Connor’s mind, discomfort filling him. After a moment of uncomfortable thought, his rational side kicked it. “That’s a bit of a stretch,” Connor said. He made his tone dismissive.
Laurence looked between him and Nick, apparently realising that his conspiracy wasn’t finding believing listeners. He bit his lip and scoffed at them before putting his phone back into his pocket and returning his attention to the menu.
Nick thumbed the menu on the table in front of him without picking it up. He turned to Laurence. “Let’s go eat in the World’s End—”
“I’m eating with Connor.” Laurence didn’t even let himfinish. He scanned the page dedicated to Connor, not giving Nick even a wisp of attention.
Nick scowled at Connor when he turned from his brother’s down-turned head and their eyes met.
“I’m sure you can find yourself a table for one,” Connor goaded.
Nick’s scowl became a glower. His chair clattered against the one next to it as he got up and stormed out of the building. Laurence peeked up to watch him go, taking his bottom lip between his teeth. A look of obvious guilt played out on his features.
Connor took that in. “I can’t believe he willingly left us alone together,” he said. “Do you think he’s starting to like me?”
“Well…maybe?” Laurence lied.
Connor repressed a grin. “What are you going to get?”
